This weekend’s Jake Phipps Memorial Trot, carded as race nine on the 12-race program at Cumberland on Saturday (July 31), features some of the best fast-class trotters currently racing in the state of Maine.

Despite being assigned the outside post six, Mister Muscle has been installed the morning line favourite. Last week, the seven-year-old son of Muscle Mass tied the track record of 1:57.3 for older trotting geldings, winning wire-to-wire for top reinsman Bruce Ranger. Mister Muscle is owned by Saratoga-based trainer-driver Mark Beckwith, and has already earned $32,399 this season in 22 starts with a 4-4-2 summary. Ranger will once again drive for trainer Ryan Nelson.

Local favourite Cherry Crown Jewel (7-2, Matt Athearn, post two) will also vie for the $6,500 purse. The nine-year-old daughter of RC Royalty was second against Mister Muscle last week, and looks to upend the early favourite. The Gretchen Athearn trainee has accumulated $16,300 in 13 seasonal starts, with three wins and five second-place finishes for owner William Phipps.

Other contenders include: Uknow What To Do (4-1, Drew Campbell, post four), Mad Dog (5-1, Heath Campbell, post three), Bruizn (9-2, Andy Harrington, post five) and Big Bang Hanover (5-1, Dave Ingraham, post one).

The introductory edition of the Jake Phipps Memorial Trot pays homage to a young man beloved by all and whose passion for harness racing inspired those around him. The winner’s circle presentation will be filled with members of the Phipps family, as well as many of the friends that Jake made along his lifelong pursuit of the sport and love of Standardbreds.

The $6,500 Winners Over Pace reconvenes with some familiar faces, as well as some out-of-town invaders looking to grab their piece of the pie before the meet winds down.

Benny Is A Jet (5-2, Nick Graffam, post five) has been installed as the early morning line favourite based upon his consistency against tougher foes at Saratoga. Already sporting a 1:54 half-mile track record this season, the four-year-old son of American Ideal has won five of his last eight starts, earning $27,875 this year. He is trained by Jim Dunn.

Looking to ground the favourites are Bet You (3-1, Kevin Switzer Jr., post three) who ships in from Plainridge and has $23,145 on his seasonal bankroll, and, Bo Master (7-2, Dan Deslandes, post four), who is coming off a six-race winning spree at Bangor.

The day’s events also consist of two $12,498 second-round divisions of the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes for two-year-old pacing fillies, carded as races one and three. The wagering menu includes three 20-cent superfectas, a 50-cent Pick-5 on the first five races, and a 50-cent Pick-4 on the final four races. First post time is 2:30 p.m. for the 12-race program.

(First Tracks Cumberland)